"Tropical Storm Allison is a storm that we remember here because not only did it spin up pretty quickly, but it also had more severe consequences that we anticipated."

Allison stalled over the region in early June of 2001, flooding over 70,000 homes and causing nearly two billion dollars in damages.

"People that didn't have the supplies, or weren't prepared to be self-sustaining for a couple of days, suffered the consequences."

Sanchez says the best time to prepare is when there isn't any threat, so you can avoid long lines and possible shortages.

"If you're shopping for a hurricane kit, it's important that you have at least a gallon of water per person per day, to be able to sustain yourself for up to a week. Have enough food, have enough medication, so you can sustain yourself for seven to ten days."

And Sanchez says if you live in a flood zone it's a good idea to keep at least a half-tank of gas in your vehicle. You also need to be prepared to pack up your supplies quickly for evacuation.